Combined headlight and motor meter



Aug. s '1926. f 1,594,42311 H. E. MOUSE COMBINED HEDLIGHT ANDMOTOR'N-IETER Filed om. 9.1925

I 36, gwwmto@ @mic/Kawa @CMM Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

Ultllll STATES HAROLD E. MOUSE, OFELKINS, WEST VIRG-NIEA, ASSGNR GFCIN-HALF TO JAMES D. LONG, F CANAAN, NEW' HAMPSHIRE.

COMBINED -IEADLIG-HT ANI) IVIOTR METER.

Application filed October 9, 1925.

rlhis invention relates to new and useful improvements in automobileaccessories, and particularly to headlights and motor meters.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwherein an auxiliary headlight is mounted on the filling cap ot' theradiator ot' an automobile, and which is dirigible by the steering gearof the automobile.

nother object is to provide a device ot' this character which can beeasily and. quickly connected to and disconnected troniv the steeringgear of the automobile, so that the driver may permit the auxiliary lampto swing with the front wheels of the automobile, whereby to cast lighton the inside of a curve in a road, or remain stationary. y

Another object is to provide a construction oi. this character whereinwhen the lamp is engaged for rotary movement with the liront wheels ofthe automobile, the light in the lamp will burn, while when disconnectedfrom the steering gear, the electric circuit is broken, and the lampextinguished.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of an automobileradiator and filling tube, showing the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the lamp and the filling` tube of theradiator.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail of the mechanism forconnecting and disconnecting the device with relation to the steeringgear of the automobile.

the line Llt ot' Figure 3, the plate 35 having been pushed in.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, represents the upperwater chamber of an automobile radiator, which has the lilling tube 11.Secured to, and encircling the upper portion of the lilling tube 11 is aring 12 in the upper face of which is formed a circular ,groove 13receiving the series of bearing balls, shown at 111. A verticallydisposed flat ring 15 is provided with a lower horizontal flange 16, andreceives Serial' No. 61,492.

loosely therein the filling tube, above said ring 12, and said flange isdisposed to rotate on the said bearing balls. Hinged to the upper edgeof the ring 15 is a cover or cap 1l'. Formed on this cap is thevertically extending lamp casing 1S, and in the iear of said casing ismounted the motor meter 19. The lamp casingl is arranged to rotate withthe cap 1'4" and ring` 15. Disposed vertically through the water chamber1 0, directly beviiei'th the filling tube 11, is a. tube 20, the

lower end of which is secured to the bottom wall of the chamber, whilethe upper por* tion -aitends vertically and centrally within the fillingtube;v and terminates at a point slightly below the cap 17. Fixed on theupper portion of the tube 21, which is rotatably disposed in the tube20, is a disk 22, having the radial arms 23, extending upwardly andlaterally, where they are secured to the ring 15. The tube 21 extendsdownwardly through the tube 2O to a point a short distance below thelower end of the tube 20, where it is out away, on opposite sides toprovide the longitudinal slots 24A. Within this lower end of the tube 21is slidably disposed a block 25, having the opposite pins 26 playing insaid slots, and whereby said block and tube are capable of simultaneousrotation. The lower end of the block is cut on opposite sides to providethe inclined shoulders 27, which result in the depending central web 28.ln the lower face of this web, and longitudinally thereof, there istoi-ined a recess 29. Mounted on the rear of l the radiator, a shortdistance below the lower end of the tube 20, is a bracket 30, androtatably supported, at its upper end, in the bracket, is the lowersection 21 of the n tube .21, the lower end `of said tube 21 Figure l isa horizontal sectional view on being provided with an arm 31 engaged inan opening in a vertical arm 82 carried by the Atie rod 83, of thesteering gear, and whereby said section 21 is adapted to rotate theautomobile is steered. The bracket is provided with a slideway Bil, inwhich is slidably disposed the plate 35, of insulationv` said platehaving a longitudinal bifurcation 36, and a circular opening 37 at theinner end thereof. The upper end of the section 21 is formed with acentral flat lug` 38 arranged to enter said bifurcation, in o-neposition of the plate 35, whereby to guide said lug into the recess 29,when it is desided to connect the lamp mechanism with 'he steering`gear, cause the lamp to be i eied with the automobile. @n the upper ieeeot tie inner end ot the plate, at opposite side ot the bifurcation,there are formed the incline 'taces 36" which are arranged to c cted'trom the steering` near, when the lamp is directed straight torward,and to ramtain the lamp casing in this position, while disconnected fromthe steering gear, the web 28 is continued downwardlv a sui'licientdistance to engage ben the highest portions ot the inclined 11 asclearly seen in Figure 3. rthis t A rfrely'prevents the tube 2l tromturning to the jarring` ot the automobile over the road. Connected tothe rear end ot' the slidable plate 55 is a fork "M, Aformed on o( thetoi-ward end of a suitable operating rod (not siiown), said rod being`arranged to ei:- tend rearwardly into convenient reach of the driver, atthe instrument board. Secured to the other end of the plate 35, andspanning the open end of the bifurcation thereot, is a strap 39, ofinsulation, which is arranged to engage with the adjacent side of theblock 25, whereby to limit the outward or rearward sliding movement ofthe plate 35, so that reengagement ot the parts is assured, upon forwardmovement of the plate. The torlr 37 is arranged to straddle the upperwater hose connection of the radiator, whereby to permit the operatingrod to eX- tend rearwardly and centrally. Encircling the lower end ofthe tube 2l., and bearing against the bottom wall ot the water chamber10, and said pins 26, is a coil spring 40, which normally urges theblock` 25 downwardly, so that the recess 29 will properly receive thelug 38. An electric conduit 4l is passed through one. ot the slots 24and up wardly to the lampi 42, the other sideot the electric. circuitbeing the ground side, or.

trame. t3 ol the automobile, whereby when the lug 38 is properly engagedin the: recess 29, the circuit is completed, and when disengaged, thecircuit is broken. In the latter position, the plate of insulation 35holds the members 2l and 25 out of metallic contact, therebyinterrupting the flow ot current, eX- cept when t-he section S25 ispermitted to move downwardly into interlocking connection with thesection 2l.

From the foregoing it will be understood that, assuming theparts to bein the position shown in Figure 3 the portion 25 is held trom any acident-al rotation by its engagement with the upper portionsv ot theelevations ot the plate rlhe member 2l is tree to rotate with thesteering gear ot the automobile, in viewct the tact that the lug` 38 iswholly without the bifurcation 36, ot

driver steering gear, so that said lamp will rotate therewith, and shedlight on the inside orn the curve a road, the operator slides the 35forward until the circular opening z digectly beneath the member 2l,said member being` oiradr-,ally lowered by the ree oil the soringl 40,and the sliding en- `ment l'xetween the inclined faces 27 and 3G", whenthe lug 38 will enter the opening 29, or the member 25, thereby couplingthe members 2l and Q5 together, and pern'iitting them to beirotated as aunit by the steering riechanism ot the automobile, so that the imp willbe turned in the desired direction. rearward sliding movement ot theplate o5, the inclined faces 36, thereot, will 'torce he member 25upwardly, by engagement with the inclined 'faces Q7, and disenthesection 25 trom the section thus permitting the latter to rotate freely,with the steering mechanism, and the section 25 to be main fainedagainst any rotative movement by contact ot the we i with the elevationsot the plate 35.

W'hat is claimed is:

l. The combination with the steering mechanism and filling tube ot anautomobile, ot a rotatable cap on the iilling tube, a vertical sectionalrod disposed through the tube and having one section connected with thecap, the other section ot the rod being connectedwith the steeringmechanism, and means Jto: engagingA and disengaging the lirst section otthe rod with the second section thereof'.

2. The combination with the steering mechanism and radiator filling tubeof an automobile, of a rotatable cap on the illing tube, a lamp mountedon the cap, a vertical sectional rod having its upper section disposedin the lilling tube and lined to the rotatable cap, the lower section otthe rod being operatively connected with the steering mechanism, saidsections being adapted tor interlocking connection with each. other, andmeans tor moving one ot the sections into and out ot interlockingconnection with the other section.

3. rlhe combination with the steering gear tie rod and a rotatableradiator cap of an automobile, ot a vertical rod including` an uppersection secured to the cap and a lower section operatively engaged withthe tie: rod, said upper section being movable into and out otinterlocking connection with the lower sec-tion, and means movablebetween the sections for connecting yand disconnecting the same.

4:. The combination with the tie rod and rotary radiator cap ot anautomobile, ot a rod secured to the cap and extending to a pointadjacent the tie rod, said rod being formed in separable sections, oneof the sections being carried by and oper-able with the tie rod, and acam means movable between the sections for connecting and disconnectingthe same whereby to cause' the said cap to rotate or remain stationary,and a lamp fixed on the said cap.

5. The combination with the tie rod and rotary radiator cap of anautomobile, of a vertical rod section secured to said cap and dependingtherefrom, said section having a socket and cam means, a second verticalrod section mounted below the first section and having a lug forengagement in said socket and being operatively connected with said tierod, and a cam member slidable between the sections for moving the firstsection to connect and disconnect the same with respect to the secondsection.

6. The combination with the tie rod and rotary radiator cap of anautomobile, of a vertical rod section secured to and depend ing fromsaid cap, said section having a socket and inclined shoulders in thelower end, a second vertical rod section having its lower endoperatively connected with the said tie rod and having a lug on itsupper end for engagement in said socket whereby to permiit the sectionsto rotate as a unit, and a slidable plate movable between the engageableends of the ysections and having cam means for engagement with the firstcam means to elevate the first section out of engagement with the secondsection, and resilient means for urging said first section intoengagement with the second section.

7. A combined filling tube and lamp support comprising a filling tubeproper, a guiding tube within the filling tube, an operating tube withinthe guiding tube and rotatable therein, the lling tube having a iiangesupporting bearings, a lamp base carrying a lamp and resting on thebearings i'or rotary movement, and a spider connected to the operatingtube and to said base.

n testimony whereof, affix my signa` ture.

HAROLD E. MOUSE.

